Boating Knowledge Base

Have a sailing question? Access NauticEd’s sailing and boating knowledge base, and gain in-depth answers to your sailing questions. If you’re interested in powerboating, visit our new powerboating blog.

Sail TellTales

"Telltales" attached to the sail in strategic positions to "tell" us what the wind is doing at that exact location.
August 11, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Electric Devices and Standards

A word of caution whenever using any home AC appliances on a vessel. Generally, these devices will work fine
October 16, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Woman starting a dinghy motor near a catamaran at sea during sunset, showcasing boating and adventure lifestyle.

Dinghy Safety!

When it comes to dinghy operations, the following is a dangerous attitude: “It’s only a short distance ashore—jump in...
October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Electronic Navigation

We are well into the 21st century. Chances are that within 30 feet (10 meters) of you right now there are 2-3 GPS-enabled potentially lifesaving devices...
October 20, 2023/by Grant Headifen

The Nautical Chart on a Charter

Even though most sailboat charters are within island groups where the next landfall is typically within sight, every boat should be equipped with complete large-scale charts of the area.
April 5, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Couple relaxing on sailboat deck, enjoying sunny day on turquoise waters. Dream yachting escape in paradise.

Why Anchor?

There are many reasons for anchoring your boat...
October 20, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Action by a Stand-On Vessel Nav Rule

Strangely enough, the written text for the action of a Stand-On vessel is longer than that of a Give-Way vessel.
August 31, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Raymarine ST6002 autopilot display showing course direction at 270 degrees, used in marine navigation.

The Autopilot on a Charter

The autopilot is a great tool for those long hauls and it’s probably better at holding a straight line than most of us.
April 10, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Group of people planning a sailing route with a map and notes in a cozy room, discussing navigation strategies.

The Nautical Chart

Safely maneuvering a vessel while using positions derived from various coastal and near coastal sources is called coastal navigation.
October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Keeping the Telltales Flying Steady

As a sailor we are doing one of two things when it comes to sail trim, either holding a course or trimming to our sails...
August 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailboats navigating wind direction on blue ocean with mapped pathways and positions.

Anchoring with Propwalk on a Sailboat

Without proper knowledge of how the boat reacts to the wind and propwalk, anchoring can be a real challenge.
March 27, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Two men discuss a yacht purchase strategy at a marina, with a model sailboat on the table.

How to Negotiate When Buying a Boat

Get expert tips on how to negotiate when buying a boat, helping you make an informed investment for your sailing experience.
March 22, 2026/by Merrill Homann-Charette
Blue sailing life vest featuring durable straps and a cartoon logo. Ideal for safety and buoyancy on the water.

Personal Flotation Devices

The terms “life jacket” and “PFD” are interchangeable, with the latter used in the USA and the former used in most of the rest of the world.
October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen
World map showing IALA maritime buoyage systems: IALA A (green to green) and IALA B (red-right-returning) regions.

Aids To Navigation (ATONS)

Aids to Navigation include buoys, lights, lighthouses, and markers, among others...
October 13, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram illustrating aerodynamic lift and push forces on a sail, optimizing wind flow for sailing efficiency.

Basic Sail Telltale Control

Controlling the Telltales by Trimming the Sail. The concept here is actually pretty simple. The golden rule is, when...
August 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Crew Briefing Video

It is important to know how much experience your crew has before you embark on any sailing adventure. For our boat, we created a video walkaround introduction to the boat covering safety items and also just general items on how we want our boat looked after.
October 15, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailor in a red jacket braving rough seas, harnessed on a wet deck with splashing waves, focused on handling the sail.

Sailing Safety Equipment

There is a plethora of equipment specially designed for a variety of emergencies at sea. Some are inexpensive...
October 16, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sea anchor setup on a yacht deck with tow line and deflate line labeled for easy sailing navigation and safety.

Sea Anchor

Finally, there is something called a “sea anchor.” These can be a variety of devices used to slow down a vessel caught in high winds and turbulent seas.
October 13, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Raymarine sailing instrument displaying depth of 9.8 feet and speed of 6.35 knots, with log reading 10321 NM.

Key Sailboat Instruments

Sailboat Instrumentation can be very sophisticated and intelligent. Most electronic displays provide a wide range of menus of useful information...
October 18, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram showing wind direction effects on a sail: trimmed, backwinding, and luffing stages.

Lifts and Knocks in Sailing

Lifts and Knocks are technical terms for how the direction of the wind changes, requiring changes in how you respond while sailing...
August 11, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Boat throttle control diagram showing forward, neutral, and reverse positions to increase RPM.

Sailboat Gear and Throttle Controls

Sailboats, and boats in general, use their gears and throttle to control momentum. It’s unlike driving a car in that you have no brake! Instead, you use your forward and reverse gears and throttle to both increase and decrease speed...
May 22, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat racing on open water with crew adjusting sails, vibrant spinnakers in the distance, under a clear sky.

Holding a Straight Course in Sailing

Holding a straight course is an imperative skill to master as you learn to sail. As an experienced sailor, nothing is more distracting to a good day out sailing than a novice helmsperson swinging the boat in all directions.
October 12, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Scenic harbor view with sailboats docked along a quaint seaside village, surrounded by lush greenery and hillside houses.

Mediterranean Mooring Techniques

Mediterranean Mooring Techniques is where the rubber meets the road—or, in this case, where the gel coat does not touch the big bad hard concrete wall.
May 15, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Burned marine shore power plug showing signs of electrical damage in hand, indicating potential safety hazard.

Shore Power Connection

One of the more common sources of fire on a boat is a loose connection of the shore power to the receptacle plug on the stern of the boat.
October 22, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Last updated on December 6th, 2024